Portland Rehires Officer Frashour, Who's On Paid Leave While City Fights His Reinstatement

Officer Ron Frashour shot Aaron Campbell (above) in 2010. He was fired by the city, but state arbitrators forced the city to reinstate him.

In a short statement released late this afternoon, Mayor Sam Adams says that the city has reinstated fired police officer Ron Frashour—and now has him on paid administrative leave.

The move comes following a ruling by the state Employment Relations Board ordering Portland to rehire Frashour—who was fired after he shot and killed unarmed 25-year-old Aaron Campbell in the back in 2010. The city must also give Frashour back pay to the date he was fired. (The amount of back pay and his current salary aren't available.)

Frashour's shooting of Campbell sparked public outrage; however, Frashour's use of force was found justified by a grand jury. An arbitrator failed to find fault with Frashour's actions given this police training, and the ERB ruling upheld the arbitrator.

Adams and the other four commissioners voted on Oct. 4 to fight the ERB ruling and will now turn to the Oregon Court of Appeals.

Here's the full statement from Adams' office:

The recent Employment Relations Board ruling ordered the City to change Ron Frashour's duty status and pay him back pay. The City is in the process of calculating the back pay amount and will make payment once that calculation is determined.However, as a result of the recent City Council action, the City will pursue an appeal at the Oregon Court of Appeals. During this time, Frashour will be placed on paid administrative leave.This is an interim legal requirement. Our fight for control of our own police bureau continues.